Window-cleaning device.



W, E. ALLEN. WINDOW CLEANING DEVIGE.

APPLIGATION FILED DBG,14,1909

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

avlwmloz ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Warren E. ALLEN, or access, oo onAno, assrenonor own-Hana 'r'o amazes-e. DONLIN, or mourn vrs'ra, cotonano.

wrnnow-cnnamne DEVICE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 14, 1909. Serial No. 533,071.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VALTnn E. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hooper, in the county of Costilla and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Window-Cleaning Device, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in window washing devices of that general class described in United States Letters Patent, issued to me on the 21st day of January, 1896, and has for an object to provide a window cleaner having a flexible washing member and a rigid frame or back for the washing member, the two cooperating to form a reservoir that will carry a supply of water suflicient for washing a number of windows.

A further object is to provide an arched washing member having its end walls set back from the end edges of the member so that the joints between the end walls and arched Working surface will not be worn away as the arched surface is worn away and will be further relieved of considerable of the strain resulting from the yielding of the arched working surface as it travels over the window, so that leakage through said joints is effectively prevented.

A still further object is to provide a rigid arched back having marginal clamping por tions to securely hold the washing member whereby the use of cement or other deteriorative connecting means is obviated.

With the above advantages and other ob jects in view, my invention embraces the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing, described in the following specification and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved window washer. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the window washer. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the window washer. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the arched washing member. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rigid back.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts in the views shown.

Referring to the parts by their reference characters, A designates a flexible washing member and B a rigid frame or back for supporting the washing member, the two cowall.

operating to form a reservoir. The washin member A is formed in a single plece and from any suitable yielding material, but W preferably from rubber. The washing member comprises an arched wall 5 which gradually increases in thickness from one of its longitudinal edges 6 to its opposite longitudinal edge 7. This increasing thickness of the wall causes the wall to resist compression at its thickened end whereby a slightly yielding washing surface is presented to the window. A plurality of longitudinal ribs 8 are formed on the washing surface of the Wall which facilitate the removal of the dirt and saves the washing surface from wear. Formed in the arched wall 5 is a series of openings 9 through which water flows from the reservoir onto the washing surface of the wall and is impeded in its escape therefrom by the ribs which carry the water over a large area and thus promote the economic use of the water in the reservoir. The open ends of the arched wall 5 are closed by end pieces 10 and 11 which are approximately semi-circular in contour and are set back from the end edges 12 and .13 of the arched wall, as shown. By this arrangement the joint between each end piece and the arched wall is not subject to wear as the washing surface is rubbed over the surface of the window as would be the case were the end walls flush with the end edges of the arched It may be seen by reference to the drawing that there is a portion of the arched wall which extends beyond the end walls and tends to resist the compression of the arched wall so that the end walls are not bulged to as great an extent by the compression of the arched wall as is usual where the end walls are flush with the end edges of the arched wall. The strain upon the joints between the arched wall and end wall is thus 1ninimized and as said joints are disposed remote from the wear surface of the washing member there will be less tendency for leaks to be sprung in the joints than usual. Formed upon the longitudinal edges of the arched wall is a pair of laterally extending flanges 14 and 15, the flange 14 being extended considerably beyond the outer surface of the arched wall to form a convenient scraper o1 drier. Formed upon the longitudinal edge of each end wall is a flange 16 which is sufficient in width to extend to the plane of the adjacent end edge of the arched wall and Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

B may be clamped.

amount of water to wash a number of winand are then bent to tightly clamp the said flanges and form a water tight joint thereclamp the flange. Disposed adjacent the op- The plate 19 snugly bears against the opflanges 17 and longitudinal flange 18 may out the use of cement, bolt screws or other device may be adjusted to any desired angutents of the reservoir to be drawn off when The back B is preferably formed from metal and is arched in contour, as shown, whereby to form with the washing member a reservoir that will contain a sufficient dows. Formed upon the end edges of the back B are hooked members 17 which are engaged over the flanges 16 of the end pieces between. Formed upon one longitudinal edge of the back is a hooked portion 18 which is engaged over the flange 15 of the washing member and is then bent to tightly posite longitudinal edge of the back is a plate 19 so spaced from the longitudinal edge as to form a slot 20 sufficient in size to receive the window scraping member 14.

posed lateral face of the scraping member and reinforces the same.

In assembling the parts the scraper 1% is inserted through the slot 20 when the end be engaged over the end and longitudinal flanges of the washing member and bent to tightly clamp the same. The back and washing members are thus secured together withfastening devices. Formed in the back is a threaded opening 21 to receive a lug which terminates in a swivel head 28 to receive a handle 24-, as shown. The washing lar position relatively to the handle 21 so as to permit of its effective manipulation over the window. The lug 22 may be disengaged from the back in order to permit the con desired and the reservoir cleaned.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, 1

isthoughtthat the construction and operati oh of my invention will be easily understood without a more extended explanation, it being understood that various changes may be made in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages.

hat is claimed is:

1. A window cleaner comprising a flexible washing member having an apertured arched wall, end pieces closing the ends of said. arched wall and set back from the end edges thereof, and a. back cooperating with said washing member to form a reservoir.

2. A window cleaner comprising a flexible member having an arched apertured wall. end pieces closing the open ends of said arched wall and spaced from the end edges thereof, projections formed upon the longitudinal edges of said arched wall and end pieces, and a back engaging said projections whereby to form a reservoir within the washing member.

A window cleaner comprising a washing member having an arched flexible wall provided with an opening loading through its working face, end pieces forming closures for the open ends of said arched wall and spaced from the end edges thereof, flanges projecting laterally from the longitudinal edges of said arched wall and end pieces, the flanges of each end piece being snflicient in width to extend to or nearly to the plane of the adjacent end edge of said arched wall whereby to reinforce and strengthen the end pieces to resist the yielding of the arched wall, and a back having marginal clampin portions for engagement with said flanges whereby to form a reservoir within the washing member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 1 s my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

lVBrLTER t1. ATJLF/X. lVitnesses R. L. Marianne, F. M. TELLER. 

